The Chaconne by Henry Purcell (1658-1695) is actually the "Dance for Chinese Man and Woman" from the fifth act of his opera The Fairy Queen. Based on Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream, the opera was premiered in London in 1692. The slow, stately chaconne style, the emphasis on beat two, makes for a vivid change of pace to your program. In addition, the arranger has provided options in instrumentation that allow for performance by string quartet or solo string quartet with the full string orchestra.